“Emmerdale” and West End star Verity Rushworth is to play the role of Maria alongside Jason Donovan as Captain Von Trapp in Andrew Lloyd Webber, David Ian and The Really Useful Group’s lavish production of Rodger’s and Hammerstein’s The Sound of Music.

Andrew Lloyd Webber, David Ian and The Really Useful Group are delighted to announce that Verity Rushworth will star as ‘Maria’ alongside Jason Donovan as ‘Captain Von Trapp’ in their smash hit production of the legendary Rodgers and Hammerstein musical “THE SOUND OF MUSIC”. Jason and Verity will play the roles when the show visits Hull New Theatre (29 January – 12 February 2011), Regent Theatre Stoke (15 February – 5 March 2011) Derry Millennium Forum (15 March – 2 April 2011), Dublin Canal Theatre (5 – 30 April 2011), King’s Theatre Glasgow (10 May – 4 June 2010) and the Leeds Grand Theatre (7 – 25 June 2011).

Verity is probably best known to television viewers as ‘Donna Windsor’ in ITV1’s “Emmerdale”. A role she played for eleven years. Her West End theatre credits include the lead role of ‘Penny Pingleton’ in “Hairspray”.

Jason has had a hugely successful and varied career as both an actor and world-wide recording artist, selling over 13 million albums to date. His West End theatre credits include ‘Tick’ in “Priscilla Queen of the Desert”, the title role in “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” and ‘Caractacus Potts’ in “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang”. His touring credits include ‘Frank N Furter’ in “The Rocky Horror Show”, the title role in John Doyle’s production of Stephen Sondheim’s “Sweeney Todd” and he can currently be seen as ‘The Artilleryman’ in “The War of the Worlds”. His television credits include “Neighbours” and “Echo Beach”. He was also a finalist in ITV’s smash hit “I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here!”.

This wonderfully lavish production tells the story of the Von Trapp family’s flight across the mountains with its unforgettable score that includes some of the most memorable songs ever performed on the musical stage including ‘Edelweisse’, ‘My Favorite Things’, ‘Do-Re-Mi’, ‘Climb Ev’ry Mountain’, ‘The Lonely Goatherd’ and the title song ‘The Sound of Music’.

“THE SOUND OF MUSIC” has music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, with a book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse, suggested by “The Trapp Family Singers” by Maria Augusta Trapp.

“THE SOUND OF MUSIC” is directed by Jeremy Sams, with choreography by Arlene Phillips, design by Robert Jones, sound by Mick Potter and lighting by Mark Henderson.

This production of the legendary Rodgers and Hammerstein musical opened to rave reviews and sell-out business at the Wales Millennium Centre in July 2009 following a record-breaking 954 performances at the London Palladium where it was seen by well over 2 million people. “THE SOUND OF MUSIC” originally premiered on Broadway in 1959, when it won six Tony Awards, including “Best Musical”. The show first opened in London in 1961 and its last London revival was in 1981, both productions having record-breaking runs. The 1965 Hollywood film, which starred Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer, won five Oscars, including “Best Picture”.